It’s day three for us in South Carolina on the Animal Lifeline trip and I am amazed by the progress: new outdoor kennels, a new cat house, new indoor kennels, new dog beds. The students, volunteers and Chester County Animal Control staff have been working all day, every day to make this happen. And with only three days left, the pressure is on and I can’t wait to see the end result.

The quality of life for these pets is going to be dramatically improved, and more animals will be adopted because of these efforts.

Check out my video blog above to tour the shelter, meet the students and see some of the pets available for adoption.

Despite all this great work, I have a problem: I have fallen in love with Nora, a little girl dog at the shelter. She is an unlikely candidate for me but, like most love affairs, you don’t always see it coming.

Nora was a bait dog used for fighting. She came into the shelter skin and bones and ripped up, but has been nursed back to health and she is a LOVER. An itty-bitty Pit Bull with the sweetest eyes who is happiest getting her belly rubbed in the grass. You can see my video of Nora here, or check out her profile on Petfinder. I begged my husband to let me bring her back to Arizona. He said (rightfully so) it’s me or the dog … so I have some serious thinking to do tonight. She, like all of these pets, deserves to find her forever home and I am pulling for her.

Anna with adoptive dad Rob Swisher

I was fortunate enough to get to see Anna, a purebred Boxer at Chester County Animal Control, find her forever home. A little on the skinny side and very shy, she attracted the attention of Rob and Lorna Swisher, who were looking for a friend for their 6-year-old adopted Boxer, Lady.

It was love at first sight with Anna. Rob said that he could tell her spirit was a little broken, but that when he first laid eyes on her he knew she was the right dog and he stopped looking.

The Swishers brought Lady to the shelter to meet her new prospective sister, and once that went well, Anna was on her way home! A big thanks to Rob for adopting Anna.

More from the road later. We have a friend coming to help tomorrow: TV personality, Elle magazine correspondent and animal advocate Fabiola Beracasa is flying in from New York City to join us. Make sure to check back for her video blog!